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People living with sickle cell disease frequently need blood transfusions that can help alleviate anemia, pain, and other complications associated with the disease.  People with sickle cell disease may need as many as 100 units of blood each year.  Blood transfusions are one of the most critical treatments for sickle cell patients, but less than 10% of Americans donate blood.  Less than five percent of blood donors are of African ancestry, and sickle cell patients benefit most from people of the same race or similar ethnicity.  Donating blood takes less than an hour and one unit of blood can save up to three lives.  Help someone with sickle cell disease by donating blood or by hosting a blood drive.